Council introduces Routeware (formerly Rubicon) contract amendment after heated debate over performance and term length

Scranton City Council introduced legislation to amend Ordinance No. 92 of 2021 to authorize the mayor to execute an updated contract with Rubicon Global LLC — to be renamed Route Ware, Inc. in the contract — for the city’s smart-waste and recycling collection system. The amendment would extend the contract term an additional 60 months (five years) and update the price schedule; the legislative packet described the extension as renewable annually.

The item (5b) was introduced into committee after council debate. Several council members said they supported further review and asked administration and the solicitor for contract backup details, specifically asking for (1) the city’s ability to terminate the contract on short notice (30/60/90 days), and (2) empirical data on service improvements such as reductions in missed pickups (“go-backs”) since Rubicon’s rollout. One member said he would introduce the ordinance but later vote against extending the contract because he was dissatisfied with observed performance.

Council member remarks captured both perspectives: one member said DPW and technology staff reported improvements and workers had embraced the system; another said after three years of “poor performance” he would vote no to a five-year extension. A council member asked staff to provide route-performance statistics and go‑back counts; staff and the business administrator were asked to produce the data used to justify the extension.

Public comments and council members also raised a procurement and cost question: one council member noted municipal staff had retained devices (tablets/phones) and suggested the city could deploy a lower-cost app-based geo-tracking approach rather than renewing a large contract; other members requested concrete cost-comparison data.

The council voted to introduce the item for committee review; the motion to introduce passed on a voice vote. The council president said he had already requested backup information from the solicitor and administration and asked for a data report on go-backs and other performance metrics.

Clarifying details and follow-up: council asked for (a) the termination notice/opt-out language in the contract (30/60/90 days or other), (b) counts of missed collections and go-backs before and after the system change, (c) updated price schedule and device ownership clarifications, and (d) any alternative procurement or lower-cost software options considered.